Reply To: Letter circulated in Brooklyn about Motzei Shabbos hangouts

The little I know

The kids hang out motzei Shabbos because the hangouts are there if there are no hangouts they won’t hang out. We have to do our hishtadlus ajd if right niw the issue is the hangouts on j and m on motzei shabbos then we need to stop kids from being there. You have to assur sometimes and this is a time to assur. The situation has gotten out of hand. I have a brother who is a teenager and he tells me whats going on and it is really out of hand. If we assur this you say they will find something else but I disagree. We are not referring to rebellious kids who are OTD or headed there. We are talking about regular kids who have a yetzer hora and fall in because its so tempting and so easy and just right there in their neighborhood on the street. Yes the kids who are looking to rebel and davka talk to girls will find a way but many kids will be saved from blocking the motzei shabbos hangouts.

Obviously there needs to be something for kids to do motzei Shabbos. Halevai kids would use the motzei Shabbos to learn or do something positive. Actually I think Yeshivas need to make mandatory seders on motzei shabbos because most kids have NOTHING to do especially on the long winter motzei shabbosim. They need to make some kind of program of learning seder or an inspiring shiur with stories…with ball playing and melaveh malka with good food. I’m sure most parents would be on board and would give money towards it.